InStyle.com -RRB- -- The dark horse in a stampede of sun-kissed curls , Lucy Liu 's ebony mane sets her apart from the typical Hollywood leading lady .

`` Even if you do n't have any makeup on , you can still look really pretty if your lips are soft and shiny . ''

`` My hair is so dark that I 'd have to bleach it to add color , so I never dye it , '' she says .

From long , sexy locks on Ally McBeal to razor-straight styles that whip around as she side-kicks and slices her way through Charlie 's Angels and Kill Bill , Liu 's hair practically plays a supporting role . This fall she returns to television as publishing exec Mia Mason on ABC 's Cashmere Mafia .

With a wavy bob -LRB- thanks to a grown-out perm -RRB- , Liu , 38 , embraces her girlier side . `` When my hair was longer , people did n't come up and talk to me , '' she says . `` Now they find me more approachable . ''

What 's your earliest beauty memory ?

I used to watch my mom put makeup on , and we would go to the five-and-dime store and experiment with whatever makeup was there . It was basically L'Oréal lipstick -- which is funny , because I still use it .

So is your mom your beauty guru ?

No , now she 's coming to me for tips . She sees how amazing my makeup looks , but it 's not me . It 's the people putting it on . I really like to keep my skin clean . I use just a little concealer . I do n't even put on sunscreen , but I do n't sit in the sun either .

No sunscreen ! How do you keep your skin so young and smooth ?

I drink a lot of water , and I 've never had coffee . I think caffeine can be really bad for your skin . And I do n't get facials , ever .

Why do n't you get facials ?

I think they damage your skin . People are getting peels and dermabrasion , and anything with the word `` abrasion '' does n't work for me . I also think a lot of plastic surgery hurts your skin .

Do you always carry around two different eye liners ?

Yes . The liquid liner is for above the eye , and the pencil is for inside the eye . But I rarely use the pencil unless I 'm going out . If you put liquid liner on during the day and then add pencil to the inner rims at night , it glams it up .

What about your hair ? How do you keep it so shiny ?

I alternate between Dr. Bronner 's All in One soap , Davines and Prawduct for shampoo and different conditioners like Pantene . I love herbal scents because I 'm a little bit allergic -LSB- to fragrance -RSB- . If I walk into a store and it 's all perfume , it 's too much . And I let my hair air dry . I rarely blow-dry -- I do n't have time .

You sound very low maintenance . Do you have any beauty indulgences ?

I splurge on acupuncture . It 's preventative medicine : You go in once a month , and you get a little checkup so you 're regulated . It keeps you healthy . My parents used to get acupuncture . It has been a part of my culture and my life for a long time , and it really , really works . It can help you lose weight , it can help your skin stay young -- and I 've found it helps with jet lag . -LSB- Acupuncturists -RSB- look at your tongue and will say : `` All right , you 're drinking too much '' or `` You 're emotional , are n't you ? ''

How else do you stay healthy ? Do you still practice martial arts ?

I just trained for the movies . But I love going hiking , and now because I 'm -LSB- filming in New York City -RSB- , I go biking . People can see me on the street -- I 'm not biking that fast . It 's just good exercise , and you get around quickly . It 's like being on a horse or a motorcycle because you 're outside .

What about Aquaphor ? I 've heard you 're obsessed .

I use it for everything . It 's not too glossy , so I wear it when I do movies because it looks really natural . I always carry a mini with me . And if I fall , which I do a lot -- I generally skid -- I 'll put it on my -LSB- scrapes -RSB- . When I was shooting a movie in Montreal , it was freezing . If you take a little bit of Aquaphor and dab it on your face , it keeps your skin looking fresh . I dubbed it Aqua for Everything .

Get her look

Makeup

Makeup pro Scott Barnes applied La Femme eye shadow in Clove -LRB- far left , $ 6 ; alconeco.com -RRB- in Liu 's creases and black liquid liner along her upper lash lines . Next he lined top and bottom inner rims with black pencil . For a natural glow he used the same beige cream makeup on cheeks and lips -LRB- Scott Barnes Crème Color in Flush , left , $ 24 ; saks.com -RRB- .

Hair

To enhance Liu 's waves and add volume , stylist Hallie Bowman spritzed Kiehl 's Super Thick Volumizer -LRB- $ 19 ; kiehls.com -RRB- on her damp hair , then blow-dried with a diffuser while scrunching the ends . Once hair was dry , Bowman rubbed Kérastase Vinyle Nutri-Sculpt cream -LRB- $ 29 ; kerastase.com -RRB- between her palms and finger-shaped waves to tame frizz and flyaways . E-mail to a friend

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Actress Lucy Liu believes long hair makes her more approachable

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She believes lots of water and no caffeine is good for skin

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Says acupuncture keeps you healthy , helps with weight loss